Method of growing grapevines

Abstract

Open ended tubes which are impervious to water and having a length of at least two feet are placed in holes in the ground. The tubes are filled with a sterile growing medium. The vines are planted in said growing medium. The exposed portion of the medium is covered by a filter material porous to water but impervious to pests. The tubes force the roots to grow downwardly and then out the bottom end of the tubes and then horizontally into the native soil.

I claim: 
     
       1. A method of growing grapevines comprising the steps of: (a) digging holes in the ground, inserting an open-ended tube which is impervious to water and roots and having a length of at least two feet in each hole so that the upper end of each tube is adjacent ground level, filling each tube with a sterile growing medium to a height whereby the exposed surface of the medium is below the upper end of each tube,   (b) planting a live grapevine with roots in said medium, protecting the roots from pests by covering said exposed surface of the medium around said vine with a filter which is porous to liquids but impervious to the pests and eggs of pests, and   (c) permitting the vines to grow in a controlled manner in said medium until the roots grow downwardly through said medium to the bottom end of the tubes and then spread laterally into the native soil.   
     
     
       2. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said filter is impervious to eggs of grape borer and with respect to phylloxera. 
     
     
       3. A method in accordance with claim 1 including using a mound of rocks between adjacent vines to perform the following functions: (a) inhibit growth between vines,   (b) act as a heat sink to provide added warmth to fruit on the vine after sundown,   (c) create vertical thermals to provide ventilation to fruit and leaves to minimize fungus disease.   
     
     
       4. A method in accordance with claim 3 wherein said fungus disease is black rot. 
     
     
       5. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said tubes have a length of at least three feet so that the bottom end of the tubes is below the frost line and keeps the roots which spread laterally into the native soil cooler to delay spring blossoms. 
     
     
       6. A method in accordance with claim 1 including adding fertilizer to the roots by introducing the fertilizer as a liquid poured through the filter into the growing medium. 
     
     
       7. A method in accordance with claim 1 including providing each tube with a liner, each liner having an exposed collar projected outwardly above the upper end of its associated tube so that mulch may be provided in the collar. 
     
     
       8. A method of growing Vitis vinifera without grafting the same to native or hybrid roots comprising the steps of: (a) digging a row of holes in the ground with each hole having a depth of at least three feet, inserted an open ended tube which is impervious to water and roots in each hole so that the upper end of each tube is adjacent ground level with the lower end of each tube being below the frost line, filling each tube with a sterile growing medium to a height whereby the exposed surface of the medium is adjacent but below the upper end of each tube,   (b) planting a live Vitis vinifera vine with roots in said medium, protecting the roots from pests which attack grapevine roots by covering said exposed surface of the medium with a filter which is porous to liquids, feeding the vines in a controlled manner by introducing liquid fertilizer through said filter into said tubes, permitting the vines to grow until the roots grow downwardly through said medium to the bottom end of the tubes and then spread laterally into the native soil below the frost line.   
     
     
       9. A method in accordance with claim 8 including using a mound of rocks between adjacent vines to inhibit growth of weeds between vines while acting as a heat sink to provide added warmth to the fruit after sundown.